Solid fence slat system

ABSTRACT

The present application provides a fence slat. The fence slat may include a substantially solid body, a locking portion positioned on the substantially solid body, and a wing anchored in the substantially solid body and extending therefrom. The substantially solid body may have a flattened shape.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present application and the resultant patent relate generally to fence slats that are inserted on a chain link fence and the like and more particularly relate to a solid fence slat system having a number of solid fence slats that lock into a slat retainer. The solid fence slats may include a pair of side wings.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Chain link fences generally are inexpensive, easy to install, and easy to maintain. Chain link fences, therefore, are used throughout the world to secure almost any type of property. Chain link fences, however, may not provide a great deal of privacy. Further, chain link fences may not be considered as attractive as, for example, a wooden fence and the like.

Plastic fence slats thus may be woven between consecutive links of the chain link fence to increase privacy and to improve overall aesthetics. Such fence slats also may provide wind protection. These fence slats, however, may have a tendency to slip out of the links of the fence over time. This slippage may cause the fence slats to become misaligned and/or may reduce the effectiveness of the fence slats with respect to privacy, aesthetics, and wind protection. As a result, many different types of locking system have been used. These locking systems, however, may add to the overall costs.

There is thus a desire for a fence slat system that quickly and easily locks the slats in to place. The fence slats preferably should be easy to install and reasonably priced as compared to existing systems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present application and the resultant patent thus provide a fence slat.

The fence slat may include a substantially solid body, a locking portion positioned on the substantially solid body, and a wing anchored in the substantially solid body and extending therefrom. The substantially solid body also may have a flattened shape and the like.

The present application and the resultant patent further provide a fence slat system. The fence slat system may include a number of fence slats having solid bodies with substantially flattened shapes as well as a slat retainer for locking the fence slats therein.

The present application and the resultant patent further provide a solid fence slat. The solid fence slat may include a substantially solid body with a flattened oval shape, a locking portion positioned on the substantially solid body, and a pair of wings anchored in the substantially solid body and extending therefrom.

These and other features and improvements of the present application and the resultant patent will become apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art upon review of the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the several drawings and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an example of a solid fence slat with wings as may be described herein.

FIG. 2 is a side plan view of the solid fence slat of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the solid fence slat of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a front plan view of a solid fence slat system as may be described herein and installed on a chain link fence.

FIG. 5 is a side plan view of a solid fence slat and a slat retainer of the fence slat system of FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now to the drawings, in which like numerals represent like elements throughout the several views, FIGS. 1-3 show a fence slat 100 as may be described herein. The fence slat 100 may include an elongated body 110. In this example, the elongated body 110 may be a substantially solid body 120 although one or more voids may be present herein. The elongated body 110 may be in the shape of a substantially flattened oval 130, a substantially rectangular shape, and the like. Specifically, the elongated body 110 may have a substantially flat first side 140 and a substantially flat second side 150. The sides 140, 150 may be connected by a first sidewall 160 and a second sidewall 170. The sidewalls 160, 170 may be curved with any suitable degree of curvature. Moreover, the sidewalls 160, 170 also may be substantially flat. The elongated body 110 also may have any suitable size, shape, or configuration.

The elongated body 110 may have a first end 180 and a second end 190. The first side 140 may have a first cutout 200 about the first end 180 and the second side 150 may have a second cutout 210 about the first end 180. The cutouts 200, 210 may extend across the width of the sides 140, 150 from the first sidewall 160 to the second sidewall 170, in whole or in part. The cutouts 200, 210 may extend into the solid body 120 by any suitable depth or width. The cutouts 200, 210 may have any suitable size, shape, or configuration.

The first end 180 also may include a first side indented portion 220 on the first side 140 and a second side indented portion 230 on the second side 150. The indented portions 220, 230 may extend from the cutouts 200, 210 to the first end 180. The indented portions 220, 230 may be a slight indent or a narrowing of the solid body 120 towards the first end 180. The indented portions 220, 230 may have any suitable size, shape, or configuration.

The cutouts 200, 210 and the indented portions 220, 230 may form a locking portion 240 about the first end 180 of the elongated body 110. The locking portion 240 as shown may have a substantial “harpoon” like shape although the locking portion 240 may have any suitable size, shape, or configuration. A similar locking portion 240 may be positioned about the second end 190 as well. Further, a locking portion 240 may be positioned on both the first end 180 and the second end 190.

The elongated body 110 of the fence slat 100 may include a first wing socket 250 positioned about the first sidewall 160 and a second wing socket 260 positioned about the second sidewall 170. A first socket slot 270 may extend from the first wing socket 250 to the first sidewall 160. A second socket slot 280 may extend from the second wing socket 260 to the second sidewall 170. The wing sockets 250, 260 and slots 270, 280 may extend along the length of the body 110 from the first end 180 to the second end 190 in whole or in part. The wing sockets 250, 260 and the slots 270, 280 may be apertures or voids within the solid body 120. The wing sockets 250, 260 and the slots 270, 280 may have any suitable size, shape, or configuration.

The fence slat 100 may include a first wing 290 extending from the first sidewall 160 and a second wing 300 extending from the second sidewall 170. The wings 290, 300 may extend along the length of the elongated body from the first end 180 to the second end 190 in whole or in part. The first wing 290 may include a first ball portion 310 and a first wing extension 320. The second wing 300 may include a second ball portion 330 and a second wing extension 340. The ball portions 310, 330 of the wings 290, 300 may be positioned within the sockets 250, 260 of the body 110 so as to anchor the wings 290, 300 therein. In additional to the ball-like shape as shown, an arrowhead or T-section also may be used with a similarly shaped socket 250, 260. Other shapes also may be used herein. The wing extensions 320,340 may extend through the socket slots 270, 280 and beyond the sidewalls 160, 170. The wings 290, 300 may have any suitable size, shape, or configuration.

The fence slat 100 may have any suitable length although the fence slat 100 typically runs in length from about one (1) to about four (4) meters or so. Because the fence slat 100 uses the solid body 120 and the wings 290, 300, the elongated body 110 may be somewhat smaller in terms of width and depth as compared to conventional fence slats although any suitable size, shape, or configuration may be used.

The elongated body 110 may be made out of a high density polyethylene or other types of material. The material may be solid or a foaming additive may be added in the extrusion process to reduce the overall weight. Other types of suitable materials may include a substantially rigid polyvinyl chloride and the like. The wings 290, 300 may be made out of a low density polyethylene if the elongated body 110 is made out of the high density polyethylene. The wings 290, 300 also may be made out of a flexible polyvinyl chloride is the elongated body 110 is made out of the rigid polyvinyl chloride. Other types of plastics such as other polyethylenes, styrene, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), and the like also may be used. A co-extrusion process may be used where a second extruder would deliver the material for the wings 290, 300 through a die to be joined with the elongated body 110. The two materials may come together inside the tool and exit via the profile shape into a water bath for cooling. Such a process may provide a mechanical lock for the wings 290, 300 within the elongated body 110 without the use of adhesives and the like. Other types of materials and other types of manufacturing processes also may be used herein.

FIGS. 4-5 show a fence slat locking system 350 as may be described herein. The fence slat locking system 350 may include any number of the fence slats 100. The fence slats 100 may be positioned between the links 360 of a conventional chain link fence 370 and the like. The fence slats 100 may be locked into a slat retainer 380. The slat retainer 380 may e positioned along the bottom, the top, or along both ends of the chain link fence 370. The slat retainer 380 may have any desired or suitable length. Likewise, any number of the slat retainers 380 may be used.

The fence slat retainer 380 may have a first retainer side, a second retainer side 400, and a base 410. The base 410 may separate the retainer sides 390, 400. The first retainer side 390 may include a first locking portion 420 and/or the second retainer side 400 may include a second locking portion 430. The first locking portion 420 may take the form of a first indented flange 440 while the second locking portion 430 may take the form of a second indented flange 450. The locking portions 420, 430 and the flanges 440, 450 may be sized and shaped to mate with the cutouts 200, 210 of the elongated body 110. The locking portions 420 and the indented flanges 440, 450 may have any suitable size, shape, or configuration.

In use, any number of the fence slats 100 may be positioned through the links 360 of the chain link fence 370. Likewise, the slat retainer 380 may be positioned through the links 360 on the bottom and/or the top of the chain link fence 370. The locking portion 240 of each fence slat 100 may be positioned within the slat retainer 380. Specifically, the indented portions 220, 230 of the first end 180 of the elongated body 110 may be positioned between the sides 390, 400 of the slat retainer 380. Upon further insertion, the indented flanges 440, 450 of the locking portions 420, 430 may engage with the cutouts 200, 210 so as to secure the locking portion 240 therein. The fence slat 100 is now locked in to place within the slat retainer 380.

Removal of the fence slat 100 may be accomplished by pulling on the indented flanges 440, 450 such that the flanges 440, 450 are clear of the cutouts 200, 210 of the body 100. The fence slat 100 then may be removed through the links 360 of the chain link fence 370.

The fence slats 100 of the fence slat system 350 described herein thus provide privacy, aesthetics, and wind protection. Moreover, the fence slats 100 with the solid body 120 and the wings 290, 300 may be more durable than known products while being reasonably priced and easy to use.

It should be understood that the foregoing relates only to certain embodiments of the present application and the resultant patent. Numerous changes and modifications may be made herein by one of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the general spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the following claims and the equivalents thereof. 

I claim:
 1. A fence slat, comprising: a substantially solid body; a locking portion positioned on the substantially solid body; and a wing anchored in the substantially solid body and extending therefrom.
 2. The fence slat of claim 1, further comprising a pair of wings anchored in the substantially solid body.
 3. The fence slat of claim 1, wherein the substantially solid body comprises a substantial flattened oval shape.
 4. The fence slat of claim 1, wherein the substantially solid body comprises a first side, a second side, a first sidewall, and a second sidewall.
 5. The fence slat of claim 4, wherein the wherein the wing extends from the first sidewall or the second sidewall.
 6. The fence slat of claim 4, wherein the locking portion comprises a cutout on the first side or the second side.
 7. The fence slat of claim 6, wherein the locking portion comprises an indented portion on the first side or the second side.
 8. The fence slat of claim 7, further comprising a pair of cutouts and a pair of indented portions.
 9. The fence slat of claim 1, wherein the substantially solid body comprises a wing socket and a wing slot formed therein.
 10. The fence slat of claim 9, wherein the wing comprises a ball portion and a wing extension.
 11. The fence slat of claim 10, wherein the ball portion of the wing is positioned within the wing socket of the substantially solid body and wherein the wing extension extends through the wing slot.
 12. The fence slat of claim 1, further comprising a pair of locking portions on the substantially solid body.
 13. The fence slat of claim 1, wherein the substantially solid body and the wing are formed in a co-extrusion process.
 14. A fence slat system comprising: a plurality of fence slats; the plurality of fence slats comprising a solid body with a substantially flattened shape; and a slat retainer for locking the plurality of fence slats therein.
 15. The fence slat system of claim 14, wherein the solid body comprises a cutout for locking the plurality of fence slats in the slat retainer.
 16. The fence slat system of claim 15, wherein the slat retainer comprises a locking member to engage the cutout.
 17. The fence slat system of claim 16, wherein the locking member comprises an indented flange.
 18. The fence slat system of claim 14, wherein the plurality of fence slats comprises one or more wings anchored in the solid body.
 19. The fence slat system of claim 18, wherein the solid body comprises a wing socket and a wing slot formed therein and wherein the wing comprises a ball portion and a wing extension.
 20. A solid fence slat, comprising: a substantially solid body; the substantially solid body comprising a flattened oval shape; a locking portion positioned on the substantially solid body; and a pair of wings anchored in the substantially solid body and extending therefrom. 